Whispers. Replays. Pauses. Zoom-ins.
If you’ve been anywhere near Duke Basketball Twitter lately, you know exactly what we’re talking about: the summer practice clips. And if you blinked, you probably missed what fans are now calling “Lineup Chaos.”
Who’s Starting… and Who’s NOT?
The biggest takeaway from the early footage? Duke’s starting five might be far from locked in — and that’s sending shockwaves through the fanbase.
In the clips, presumed starters like Cameron Boozer and Caleb Foster were spotted running with the second unit in certain scrimmage segments. Meanwhile, Isaiah Evans, Patrick Ngongba II, and even freshman Cayden Boozer were all caught getting significant reps with what looked like the primary group.
Fans immediately took to the comments:
> “Why is Boozer not running with the 1s?!”
“Is Scheyer just experimenting or are we witnessing a real shift?”
Is Coach Scheyer Hiding His Hand?
One theory: This is all a smokescreen. With expectations sky-high and national attention locked in on this highly touted freshman class, Coach Jon Scheyer may be intentionally mixing things up.
But others aren’t so sure.
Competition is REAL
If there’s one positive thing coming out of this “chaos,” it’s the clear intensity. Players aren’t just going through the motions — they’re battling for minutes. The message from the coaching staff is simple: nothing is guaranteed.
Isaiah Evans, in particular, has turned heads. Known for his scoring, he’s reportedly improved defensively — which could earn him a starting wing spot. Meanwhile, Cayden Boozer’s pace and poise have shocked some who expected him to come off the bench behind veteran guards.
What’s the Real Starting Five?
If we had to guess — based solely on the clips — here’s the lineup that seems to be getting momentum:
PG: Cayden Boozer
SG: Darren Harris
SF: Isaiah Evans
PF: Maliq Brown
C: Patrick Ngongba II
But again… everything could change tomorrow.
